Apparatus for producing cartons

ABSTRACT

Apparatus comprising a side seaming device adapted to fold a prescored carton blank along two score lines and to provide an adhesively secured side seam to form a flat tube. The apparatus also includes a carton blank feeding device preceding the side seaming device for feeding blanks to the latter and a device following the side seaming device for reverse folding the flat tube along the remaining two score lines.

iliie iaies iei 1151 3,656,617 Sadly 14 1 Apr. 1, 1972 54] APPARATUS FORPRODUCWG 3,399,788 9/1968 Heywood ..93/93 CARTONS 3,414,257 12/1968Muller .93/93 3,418,892 12/1968 Dieter .93/36.3 X [72] inventor: John W.Scully, Raynham, Mass. 3,422,969 1/1969 Miner I I "93/93 X A signeezPneumatic Scale corporafign Quincy Ma 2,217,784 10/1940 Bennett ..93/532,780,970 2/1957 Gentry ..93/53 [221 Flled= 1969 2,803,932 8/1957Nigrelli ..93/53 [21] Appl 813472 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS s CL93 52 93/36-MM, 93/53 OR 656,359 2/1938 Germany ..93/53 0R 93/93 DP 51Int. 01. ..B31b 1/36, B3 lb 1/62, B31b 1/78 'v Examiner-Wayne A- Morse,JP [58] Field of Search ..93/36 MM, 36 so, 36.3, 52, e- Church! 93/53OR, 58 ST, 93 DP [57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited Apparatuscomprising a side seaming device adapted to fold a prescored cartonblank along two score lines and to provide UNITED STATES PATENTS anadhesively secured side seam to form a flat tube. The ap- 18 1966 Cai93/93 paratus also includes a carton blank feeding device preceding ,7736/1967 Lopez-mthe side seaming device for feeding blanks to the latterand a 3,326,095 1967 P 93/36 device following the side seaming devicefor reverse folding 3,354,796 1 957 LOPEZ the flat tube along theremaining two score lines. 3,391,618 7/1968 Clem ..93/52 3,393,6137/1968 Shields ..93/36 1 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 18 I972SHEET 02 0F 13 ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET UBUF 13 INVENTOR 14/.5cu//y ATTORNEY PATENTEDAFR 18 1972 SHEET cu OF 13 IN l/E/V TOR J. W.5cu//y ATTORNEY.

PATEr-mmrmamz 3,656,417

SHEET new 13 INVENTOR By J M/ Scu//y fMQQa-QQLU ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 18I972 3,656,417

SHEET can? 13' /NVE/VTOR By J. W Scu//y ATTORNEY iATENTEHAFR 18 1972SHEET MIN 13 WUENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET 120! 13 y M r u MC V m WM-CZuAQ/ -QATTORNEY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to thepackaging art and contemplates novel apparatus for feeding, folding,side seaming and reverse bending flat tubular cartons, known in the artas knockdown cartons, prepared from prescored carton blanks. The feedingmechanism is arranged to withdraw successive lowermost carton blanksfrom a stack thereof and to present successive blanks to a continuouslymoving conveyer where the blanks are first provided with a strip ofadhesive along a seam forming portion. The prescored panels on eitherside of the blank are then folded inwardly to join the marginal edgesand to form a tube provided with a side seam. The side seam is thenpressed to firmly set the adhesive.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention provision is made fortransferring successive flat tubular cartons from the tube formingconveyer to a reverse folding or bending device arranged to open theflat folded cartons and to refold the same 180 in the opposite directionalong the score lines which were previously unfolded. In operation, thecartons thus reverse folded are transferred directly to a bottom sealingmachine, not shown, where each carton is squared up and applied to amandrel or forming block whereupon the bottom flaps are closed andadhesively secured to provide a bottom closure. Alternatively, the fattubular cartons may be stacked and stored for future use.

Prior to the present invention it has been the practice for those in thepackaging trade to purchase the flat tubular cartons from a cartonmanufacturer, and in practice such cartons are transferred from amagazine into the packet of a bottom sealing machine where the carton issquared up-and applied to a forming block to be bottom sealed. Onetransfer mechanism widely used in the packaging industry comprises areciprocating bladelike device which is inserted within a flat knockdowncarton in a magazine and then moved to open the carton and to presentthe same between rollers which deliver the carton to the squaring pocketof the bottom sealing machine. The prior art apparatus for feeding theside seamed cartons to a bottom sealing machine is exemplified generallyin the patent issued to S. R. Howard, US. Pat. No. 1,916,425, July 4,1933. While such prior devices have operated successfully over a longperiod of time, it was found that in practice if the cartons supplied bythe manufacturer were not of uniform shape and size, or were slightlydisplaced in the magazine, there would be times where the bladelikedevice would fail to transfer a carton to the bottom sealer. Theexpedient of side seaming the cartons, reverse bending the same andfeeding them directly into the bottom sealing machine, in accordancewith the present invention, gives the user better control of the productand also results in a saving in that the cartons do not have to bestacked and stored for future use and then again handled when ready foruse. Furthermore, the expedient of forming the side seam in thepackaging plant rather than purchasing the side seamed cartons resultedin a saving in the initial cost of the cartons.

Accordingly, the present invention has for one object to provideapparatus for producing flat tubular cartons from prescored cartonblanks characterized by novel structure adapted to produce the cartonsin a rapid, efficient and economical manner.

The invention has for another object to provide novel and improvedapparatus of the character specified characterized by novel carton blankfeeding mechanism arranged to withdraw successive carton blanks from astack thereof at a rapid rate.

The invention has for a further object to provide novel and improvedapparatus of the character specified having novel provision for openingand reversely folding a flat tubular carton in a rapid and efficientmanner.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the apparatus for producing cartonsand in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of partshereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the endof this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings illustrating thepreferred embodiment of the invention: 7

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for producing cartons embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate in perspective the different steps followed inproducing a side seamed carton from a prescored carton blank;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carton provided with a bottom seal;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the carton blank feeding device;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the parts in a differentposition of operation;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view at a larger scale of the lower end ofthe magazine showing a blank partially withdrawn;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the carton blank feeding device asseen from the line 1212 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the receiving end of the carton folding andside seaming conveyer;

FIG. 14 is a detail view of the carton blank transfer rolls shown in adifferent position of operation;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation, partly in cross section, of the side seampressing mechanism as taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a view in side elevation of the side seam forming mechanismand the carton opening and reverse folding mechanism disposed at thedischarge end of the side seam conveyer;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 18; and

FIGS. 20 to 24 are detail views in plan elevation showing the differentpositions of operation of the reverse folding and carton advancing ordischarge mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand particularly to FIG. 1, in general the present apparatus includescarton blank feeding mechanism 10 adapted to withdraw successivelowermost carton blanks 12 from a stack 14 thereof supported in amagazine 16. The upright stack is arranged at an angle of about 40 fromthe vertical for convenience in loading the magazine and also to reducethe height of the unit.

The carton blanks 12 are prescored and, in operation, successive blankswithdrawn from the stack are advanced longitudinally to present theleading ends thereof first between advancing rolls 18, 20 and thenbetween transfer rolls 22, 24 the latter being arranged to present thecartons to a horizontal conveyer indicated generally at 26 wherein amarginal edge, comprising the side seam flap 27, of the blank isprovided with adhesive by a glue applying roller 28 during the advanceof the carton blank. The side wall panels along the outer edges of thecarton, including a narrow panel 29 on one side and a wider panel 3l'onthe other side, are then folded inwardly by folding rails indicatedgenerally at 30 to present the longitudinal marginal edges inoverlapping and adhesive engagement. The carton is thus folded along twoscore lines and provided with a side scam, the latter being firmlypressed to set the seal by a presser roll 32 during the continuousadvance of the blank.

In practice, the blanks thus folded and sealed to form a flat tube maybe discharged from the apparatus and stored for future use, or the sideseamed cartons may be fed directly to a magazine from which they arewithdrawn and opened by conventional means to be delivered to a bottomsealing machine. However, in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, novel provision is made for opening the carton and effectingreverse folding thereof along the two remaining score lines whereuponthe carton is transferred directly to a bottom sealing machine. Thecarton opening, folding and transferring mechanism is indicatedgenerally at 34 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a guide roll 36 and apair of advancing rolls 38, 40 which serve to press the reverse foldsand to advance the cartons to the bottom sealing machine, not shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and for a more detailed description of thecarton blank feeding mechanism 10, it will be seen that successivelowermost carton blanks 12 in the stack are arranged to be withdrawn byengagement with a plurality of laterally spaced friction belts 42arranged to run over spaced idler pulleys 44 fast on a shaft 46 andspaced drive pulleys 48 fast on a shaft 50. The friction belts 42 arerun continuously and each belt comprises a rubber belt having aplurality of small upstanding resilient projections thereon.

In order to control the withdrawal of successive blanks in timedrelation to the operation of the machine, a plurality of laterallyspaced lifting rolls 52, which extend between the spaced belts 42, arearranged to alternately elevate the stack 14 to lift the lowermost blank12 away from the belts and to lower the stack to present the lowermostblank in frictional engagement with the belts to effect withdrawal of ablank. The rolls 52 are mounted on a rod 53 carried by spaced arms 54which are mounted on shaft 56. A second arm 58 carried by the shaft 56is connected by a link 59 to one arm 60 ofa bell crank mounted to rockon a shaft 62. The second arm 64 of the bell crank carries a roller 66for cooperation with a cam 68 fast on a cam shaft 70.

As herein shown, the rear edge of the lower end of the stack 14 engagesa roller 72 carried by an arm 74 which is adjustably mounted in themagazine 16. The roller 72 carries some ofthe weight of the stack and isextended slightly forwardly of the rear edge of the stack so as to causethe leading edges of the lowermost group of blanks to feather outforwardly as shown. The forward end of the stack carries a plurality ofangular guides 76 against which the feathered edges of the lowermostgroup of blanks rests. The guides 76 are vertically adjustable and arearranged to cooperate with driven rolls 78 to assist in freeing thelowermost blank from the stack. In operation, the spacing between thelower ends of the guides 76 and the periphery of the rolls 78 is aboutone and one-half times the thickness of the carton blank. When thelifting rolls 52 are rocked to their elevated position, as shown in FIG.10, the blanks are raised above the friction belts 42 and, conversely,when the stack is lowered by the rolls 52, as shown in FIG. 9, thelowermost blank is engaged by the belts and carried under the guides 76into the grip of the driven feed rolls 18, spaced a short distanceforwardly of the front end of the magazine. In practice, the frictionbelts are operative to feed the forward end of the blank for a shortdistance only before the feed rolls 18, 20 take over the blank advancingoperation, the rolls being driven at a surface speed equal to the linearspeed of the belts 42. As shown in FIG. 11, the spacing between theguides 76 and the rolls 78 permits only one blank at a time to bewithdrawn from the underside of the stack. In operation, the liftingrolls 52 must be actuated to elevate the stack before the trailing endof the blank being withdrawn leaves the magazine whereby to preventrelease of a succeeding carton immediately following the first. Inoperation, the cam operated lifting rolls thus serve to control thespacing of the carton blanks in timed relation to the operation of themachine. FIG. 9 shows the lifting rolls 52 in their lowered position topermit withdrawal of the lowermost blank, and FIG. 10 shows the liftingrolls in their elevated position wherein the stack is lifted away fromthe fiction belts 42.

The leading ends of successive carton blanks 12 advanced by the feedrolls 18, 20 are received between the continuously driven transfer rolls22, 24 to be delivered to the horizontal conveyer 26. As herein shown,the upper transfer rolls 22 are provided with cutouts 23 to receive theleading ends of the blanks and to ease their transition from an inclinedposition to a horizontal position on the conveyer 26.

The drives to the carton blank feeding device 10 include a chain andsprocket drive 80 from the cam shaft 70 to the shaft 50 on which thepulleys 48 are mounted. The shaft 50 is connected by spur gears 82, 84,86 to a shaft 88 on which the rolls 78 are mounted for cooperation withthe guides 76. The shaft 50 is also connected by spur gears 90, 92 to ashaft 94 which carries the upper feed rolls 18. The shaft 94 is carriedby spring pressed block bearings 96 slidingly mounted in the side framesand the shaft 46 on which the pulleys 44 are mounted is also carried byblock bearings 98 adjustably mounted in the frames to serve as a belttightener.

The cam shaft 70 is driven by a chain and sprocket connection 100 to ashaft 102 which latter is connected by bevel gears 104, 106 to alongitudinally extended shah 108. The latter shaft is connected by bevelgears 110, 112 to a driven shaft 114. The shaft 114 is connected by spurgears 116 to a shaft 118 which in turn is connected by a chain andsprocket drive 120 to a main cam shaft 122 forming a part ofa bottomsealing machine to which reference has been made.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal conveyer 26 includes apair of laterally spaced chains 124 provided with longitudinally spacedlugs or flights 126 arranged to engage the rear of trailing edges of ablank 12 delivered to the conveyer by the transfer rolls 22, 24. Thechains 124 are continuously driven and are arranged to run over uppersprockets 128, 130 mounted on shafts 132, 134, respectively, at each endof the conveyer; lower sprockets 136, 138 mounted on shafts 102, 114;and intermediate guide sprockets 140, 142. The sprockets 138 are fast onthe shaft 114 to effect driving of the chains 124. The shaft 132 isconnected by spur gears 144 to the shaft 146 on which the upper rolls 22are mounted. The upper rolls are supported in block bearings 148slidably mounted in the supporting frame.

In operation, the surface speed of the transfer rolls 22, 24 is fasterthan the linear speed of the chains 124 of the conveyer 26 so that acarton blank 12 deposited on the conveyer comes to rest momentarilyafter leaving the transfer rolls until the chain lugs 126 engage thetrailing end to start the blank forward to carry it through the machine.As shown in H65. 1 and 13, the drive to the shaft 132 on which the lowerroll 24 is mounted comprises a chain and sprocket drive from the shaft102. It will be understood that the sprockets 128 on shaft 102 overwhich the carrier chains 124 run comprise idlers and that the chain andsprocket drive 145 is designed to effect rotation of the shaft 132 at arate such that the carton blank 12 will be deposited on the conveyer 26prior to arrival of the lugs 126. As herein shown, the blank is guidedbetween side guides 150, 152 and under hold down rails 154, 156. Theblank is first carried past the adhesive applying roller 28 where theunderside of the side seam flap 27 is provided with a coating ofadhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 18, the adhesive applying roller 28 isrelatively narrow and is mounted for adjustment on a shaft 158 arrangedto be rotated in timed relation to the advance of the carton by chainand sprocket connections from the shaft 114 including a connection 159to a shaft 160, a second connection 161 to a shaft 162 and a finalconnection 164 to the shaft 158. In practice, the roller 28 is rotatedat a surface speed slightly less than the linear speed of the conveyerchains 124 so that the trailing end of the carton side seam flap willnot receive a surplus of adhesive such as would occur if the applyingroller were traveling faster than the blank. The applying roller 28 isarranged to run in a glue pot 166 provided with a quick setting hot meltadhesive. As herein shown, the glue pot is carried by parallel arms 168arranged to be lowered by a handle 170 to permit convenient cleaning andservicing of the same. One of the guide rails, 152, is provided with ashort rail 172 overlying a portion of the applying roller and underwhich the side seam flap 27 extends, the rail 172 serving to retain theflap in operative engagement with the applying roller during theadhesive applying operation.

The carton blank is the guided under shoes 174, 176 whose outer edgesare aligned with score lines 178, 180, respectively, of the carton blankand past stationary folding rails 182, 184 shaped and bent to effectinward folding of the side wall panels 29 and 31 through l80 degrees. Asherein shown, the hold down rails 154, 156 and the shoes 174, 176 aremounted for lateral adjustment on rods 186 carried by arms 188. The arms188 are clamped to a longitudinally extended rocker shaft 190 journaledin bearing brackets 192 attached to the frame. The folding rails 182 onone side of the conveyer 26 are likewise carried by and adjustablymounted on arms 194 clamped to the rocker shaft 190. The folding rails184 on the other side of the conveyer are carried by and adjustablymounted on arms 196 clamped to a rocker shaft 198. The side guides 150,152 are adjustable on tie rods 191 extending between side rails 193.With this construction it will be seen that the operating elements ofthe side seaming conveyer are adjustable for different sizes of cartonswithin predetermined minimum and maximum limits. As shown in FIG. 19,the side seamed carton passes under a guide plate 195 on one side andunder a rod 197 on the other side which serve to complete the creasedfold along the score lines 178, 180.

In practice, the hold down and folding elements are spring urgeddownwardly to a predetermined and adjustable stop position as indicatedin FIG. 16 and are capable of rocking upwardly in the event of a jam.Suitable controls, not shown, may be provided for stopping the machinewhen such a jam occurs. It will be understood that the wider side wallpanel 31 comprises the first folded panel whereby to present theadhesive coated flap 27 face up whereupon the narrower panel 29 isfolded down on top of the flap 27 to provide the side scam indicated at200. Immediately thereafter, during the continued advance of the carton,the side seam 200 is subjected to a pressing operation by drivenpressure rolls including the roll 32 previously referred to and acooperating roll 204 arranged to spread and set the adhesive. I

During the pressing operation, the carton is supported on a continuouslymoving belt 206 which is coextensive with the chain conveyer 26. Thebelt 206 and the driven rolls 32 and 204 are arranged to travel fasterthan the carrier chains 124 in order to pull the carton ahead of thelugs 126 during the transfer from the chain to the belt. Thus, inpractice, the pressure rolls not only press the glue seam but alsoaccelerate the carton away from the chain lugs and into a pocket 208 ofa spider 210 forming a part of the carton opening, folding andtransferring mechanism 34. As herein shown, the belt 206 runs over adrive pulley 212 fast on a drive shaft 222 and over a driven pulley 214mounted to rotate on a stud 216 fast in a bracket 218. The drive shaft222 is rotated by a chain and sprocket drive 220 from the carrier chainsprocket shaft 134 and is designed to effect a linear speed of the belt206 at a faster rate than the linear speed of the carrier chains 124.The lower pressure roll 204 is also mounted on the pulley shaft 222. Theupper roll 32 is mounted on a shaft 224 and is connected to rotate withthe lower roll by spur gears 226. As herein shown, the upper roll shaft224 is journaled in a bracket 228 pivotally mounted at 230 and is rockedin a direction to urge the roll 32 into cooperating engagement with thelower roll 204 by a compression spring 232 coiled about a rod 233 andinterposed between a yoke 234 forming a part of the bracket 228 and ashaft 236 journaled in spaced arms 238 extended from a bracket 240attached to the machine frame. In practice, the rod 233 may extendthrough the shaft 236 and connections to the lower end of the rod may bemade to effect manual rocking of the bracket 228 to an inoperativeposition when desired. As herein shown, the lower end of the rod 233 maybe provided with a hub 235 having a cam surface at its upper endengaging the handle 237 and rocking of the handle will effect rocking ofthe pressure roll 32 upwardly.

In operation, it may be desired to limit the pressing operation to theside seam area 200 only as defined by the flap 27 of the carton blank12, that is, to maintain the roll 32 elevated until the closing flaparea at one end has passed and again lifting the roll before it engagesthe closing flaps at the other end of the carton so as to avoidsqueezing glue out of the ends of the seam onto the closing flaps. Thismay be accomplished by rocking the upper roll 32 into and out ofcooperating engagement with the lower roll 204 through cam operatedlinkage, not shown, connected to the rod 233. Another expedient employed to effect pressing along the side seam area only and not alongthe extended end closing flaps is to provide a cutout in the lower roll204 to avoid cooperation with the upper roll except during that portionof each cycle when the side seam portion 200 passes between the rolls.In any event, the passage of the carton between the rolls 32, 204 alsoserves to advance the carton to the carton opening, reverse folding andtransferring device 34.

In order to further assist in advancing the carton into a pocket 208 ofthe spider 210, a roller 242 carried by an arm 244 is arranged tocooperate with the discharge end of the belt 206 adjacent the pulley214. The arm 244 is mounted to pivot on a stud 246 and is presseddownwardly by a coil spring 248 carried between an extension 250 fromthe arm 244 and a second arm 252 clamped to the stud 246. The stud 246is adjustably mounted in an elongated slot 254 formed in a bracket 256.

As herein shown, the spider 210 comprises spaced hub members 264adjustably clamped to a shaft 258 and is provided with four equallyspaced carton receiving pockets 208 arranged to be indexed through eachcycle of operation of the machine. Each pocket is defined by spacedelements 260 having V-shaped grooves facing toward each other. Eachgrooved element 260 is carried by a bracket 262 attached to itsrespective hub member 264. Each pair of elements 260 defining a pocket208 are spaced apart a. distance slightly less than the width of theside seamed carton deposited therebetween so that the carton will beforced into a slightly open position. The receiving end of each pocket208 is shaped to accept the full width of the leading end of the cartonand then tapers inwardly for a short distance to a point where thespacing between the grooves is less than the full width of the carton.The leading end of the carton comes to rest against an adjustable stop266 carried by each bracket 262.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the shaft 258 which carries the spider 210 isarranged to be indexed 90 each cycle of operation through connectionsincluding a Geneva drive mechanism, indicated generally at 268, andwhich includes a driving member 270 fast on a shaft 272 and a drivenmember 274 fast on a shaft 276. The shaft 272 is connected by a chainand sprocket drive 278 to the main drive shaft 122. The driven member274 of the Geneva is fast on the shaft 276 and the latter is connectedby a train of gears 182 to the spider shaft 258.

The purpose of the indexing mechanism is to bring successive cartonsfrom a horizontal to a vertical or upright position in order toaccommodate the bottom sealing machine which is arranged to receive thecartons in an upright position. After the carton has been indexed to avertical position in its partly open condition, provision is made forremoving or stripping the carton from its pocket; opening the carton toits squared up condition during such removal; and then folding thecarton in a reverse direction as it leaves its pocket to be receivedbetween the driven rolls 38, 40 which serve to transfer the carton tothe bottom sealing machine and also serve to crease the remaining scorelines 288, 290, resulting in a carton that has been prebroken on allfour vertical score lines and properly glued to produce the desiredsquared up shape in the completed carton.

As herein shown, a pair of spaced carton stripping or removing arms 292are mounted on a shaft 294 and are adjustably secured to an arm 29S faston the vertical rocker shaft 294 journaled in a bracket 296. The shaft294 is arranged to be rocked in timed relation to the movement of thepockets through cam operated linkage including an arm 298 fast on thelower end of the rocker shaft 294 and a link 300 connecting the arm 298to a cam lever 302. The cam lever 302 is pivotally mounted at 304 in abracket 306 and is provided with a cam roll 308 cooperating with aclosed cam 310 fast on the cam shaft 122.

Referring now to FIGS. 20 to 24, FIG. 20 shows a carton 12 supportedalong its folded score lines 178, 180 between spaced V-groove elements260, 261 with the carton partially open. The stripping arms 292 areshown in their retracted position in FIG. 20, and a stationary angleplate 312 is shown positioned intennediate the V-groove elements. Thearms 292 are disposed above and below the V-groove elements, and inoperation the adjacent extended edges of the carton are engaged bygrooved portions 314 formed in rounded members 316 carried by the arms292, the opposite edge of the carton remaining in its V-groove element260. Continued movement of the arms 292 as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22opens the carton to a squared up position, the stationary angle plate312 serving to support one side wall 291 of the carton at this time withthe rounded member 316 bearing against an end wall 293 and with theopposite end wall 29 still in engagement with its V- groove element 261.Further movement of the arms 292 effects folding of the carton along thepreviously unbent score lines 288, 290 by pressure of the roundedmembers against the trailing end wall 293 while the carton is supportedbetween the angle plate 312 and the V-groove element 261. As shown inFIGS. 23 and 24, the leading end of the carton now becomes free of theV-groove element 261 and the V-grooves 318 formed in the blocks 320carried by the arms 292 become operative by engaging the newly foldedtrailing edge defined by the score line 288 and advancing the cartonbetween guide rails 322, 324 and between driven rolls 38, 40 which forma part of the bottom sealing machine and by which the carton isdelivered to the machine to be squared up and elevated onto a mandrelfor supporting the carton during closing and sealing the bottom flaps ofthe carton. The driven rolls 38, 40 also serve to crease the newlyfolded edges defined by the score lines 288, 290 to break the cartonalong the score lines as described. A guide roll 36 is provided adjacentthe rail 322 on one side of the carton, and a guide plate 332 movableinto and out of operative engagement with the other side of the cartonwhereby to prevent opening of the carton during its transfer to thecreasing and advancing rolls 38, 40. It will be understood that inpractice successive cartons are advanced to the bottom sealing machineat the rate of about 100 cartons a minute. As shown in FIG. 18, theguide plate 332 is carried by a curved arm 334 fast on a shaft 336journaled in a bracket 338. A second arm 340 fast on the shaft 336 isconnected by a link 342 to one arm 344 ofa cam lever pivotally mountedon a stud 346 carried by a bracket 348 attached to the machine frame.The second arm 350 of the cam lever is provided with a cam roll 352cooperating with a cam 354 fast on the cam shaft 122.

Referring again to FIGS. 9 and 10, provision is made for latching thecam lever 64 in an upraised position to maintain the stack 14 in anelevated position when it is desired to discontinue feeding of thecarton blanks. This may be done by a manual control or by an automaticcontrol of any usual or preferred construction. In either event, anormally closed solenoid valve 356, see FIG. 9, which connects a sourceof an air from a pipe 357 to an air cylinder 358 is actuated to open thevalve 356 upon closing ofthe circuit 359. Opening of the valve effectsextension of the stem 360 which engages one arm 362 of a bell crankpivotally mounted on a stud 364 carried by a bracket 366. The arm 363 isspring urged in a clockwise direction and the second arm 368 of the bellcrank is connected to one arm 370 of the latch 371 by a rod 372 fixed inthe arm 370 and slidingly mounted in the arm 368. The rod 372 isprovided with a nut 373 to limit the sliding movement and to effectpositive disengagement of the latch. A compression spring 374 coiledabout the rod 372 is arranged to rock the latch in a counterclockwisedirection on the stud 364 to present the latch 371 in the path of anextension 376 of the cam lever 64. This type of control is of advantagewhen it is desired to automatically discontinue the feed of the canonsin the event that a jam occurs in the side seaming device such as tocause elevation of the folding elements wherein a mtcroswitch 378 may beplaced to close the circuit 359 to the solenoid valve 356 in such event,or a manually operated switch may be provided in the circuit. Anotherform of control for discontinuing the feed of carton blanks, asillustrated in FIG. 9, may comprise a photoelectric scanning unitindicated at 380 which is arranged to detect an oversupply of completedcartons at a forward point in the packaging line, and to actuate thesolenoid valve 356 whereby to effect latching of the cam lever 64.

From the above description it will be seen that the present apparatus iscapable of producing flat tubular or side seamed cartons from prescoredcarton blanks in a rapid, efficient and economical manner. It will alsobe observed that the present apparatus provides novel carton feedingmechanism, and novel mechanism for transferring the cartons directlyinto the bottom sealing machine whereby to provide a continuous cartonproducing process lending itself to more accurate and trouble-freehandling of the cartons as distinguished from the use of previouslyprepared side seamed cartons. While the apparatus illustrated anddescribed is particularly adapted for feeding cartons directly into abottom sealing machine, it will be apparent that the side seamed cartoncould be stacked and stored for future use, in which case the rate ofproduction could be substantially increased.

While the blanks herein illustrated and described comprise unlinedblanks, it will be understood that a lining material may be affixed tothe prescored blanks to produce lined cartons.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for producing flat tubular cartons from prescored cartonblanks having wall panels defined by scored lines and having end closingflaps and a marginal side seam flap, in combination, a conveyer forcontinuously advancing successive carton blanks, means for applyingadhesive to said marginal side seams flap during the continuous advanceof the carton blank, stationary means associated with the conveyer forfolding inwardly the outer wall panels along their respective scorelines to bring said marginal side seam flap in overlapping and adhesiveengagement with the marginal edge of the opposing panel to provide aside seam, and means for thereafter applying pressure to said side seamto spread and set the adhesive, means for feeding successive prescoredcarton blanks onto the receiving end of said conveyer, and meanscooperating with the discharge end of said conveyer for openingsuccessive flat tubular cartons and for refolding the same along the tworemaining score lines, said feeding means comprising a magazine forsupporting a stack of carton blanks, a plurality of friction beltsarranged to withdraw successive lowermost carton blanks in the stack,and means for raising and lowering the stack into and out of operativeengagement with the belts to control the withdrawal of blanks.

1. In apparatus for producing flat tubular cartons from prescored cartonblanks having wall panels defined by scored lines and having end closingflaps and a marginal side seam flap, in combination, a conveyer forcontinuously advancing successive carton blanks, means for applyingadhesive to said marginal side seams flap during the continuous advanceof the carton blank, stationary means associated with the conveyer forfolding inwardly the outer wall panels along their respective scorelines to bring said marginal side seam flap in overlapping and adhesiveengagement with the marginal edge of the opposing panel to provide aside seam, and means for thereafter applying pressure to said side seamto spread and set the adhesive, means for feeding successive prescoredcarton blanks onto the receiving end of said conveyer, and meanscooperating with the discharge end of said conveyer for openingsuccessive flat tubular cartons and for refolding the same along the tworemaining score lines, said feeding means comprising a magazine forsupporting a stack of carton blanks, a plurality of friction beltsarranged to withdraw successive lowermost carton blanks in the stack,and means for raising and lowering the stack into and out of operativeengagement with the belts to control the withdrawal of blanks.